1
a
: causing death eventually : leading finally to death
She was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
a terminal [=fatal] illness/disease
b
: having an illness that cannot be cured and that will soon lead to death
a terminal patient
c
: of or relating to patients who have a terminal illness
terminal care
2
informal
: very bad or severe
I was suffering from terminal boredom.
another person with terminal stupidity
3
: at the end : forming or coming at the end of something
branches that end in a terminal bud
We're on the terminal [=final] leg of our trip.
The terminal [=last] stop for this line is Boston.
plural terminals
1
a
: a building where buses or trains regularly stop so that passengers can get on and off : station
I will meet you outside the bus terminal.
b
: a building at an airport where people get on and off airplanes
Flight 1584 is now departing from Gate 6 in Terminal A.
You are not allowed in the terminal without a ticket.
2
: a computer or a combination of a keyboard and a video display that is connected to a system and used for entering or receiving data
Ten terminals are connected to this server.
3
: a part on a piece of electrical equipment (such as a car battery) where you make an electrical connection
You will need to clean the corrosion off the battery terminals.
Cite this Entry
“Terminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/terminal. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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